The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-25
"Reminiscences Of riny ear Ago.

ChAris- Gayarrc. In tho American Magazine.
One of our rich and impctuous young
men had been playing at the roulette table
and losing heavily. Ills excitement grew
more intense in proportion rs he lost. At
last he became frantic on percciying that
he no longer had a rent in his purse. lie
felt aud iumbled in vain, with trembling
hands, all over aud in his wearing apparel.
until in the profound RECESS Oi q huge
pocket OF his oycrcoat he unexpectedly dis.
covered n bank note that seemed TO have
carefully aud prudcntly hidden itself 10 ~.
cape the general wreck. Eagerly unrOll.
ing IT, lac j%oyiully exclaimed: by heav-
ems IL l. for 81 ,OOOl I'll stake Il in a
lump. Fortune favOn the bold" Then,
leaning forward over the voracious board
Of the black aud red, rs he raised his arm
to fling his last note ON Il, he caught the
eye OF S%terlain, who occupied his usual
seat ~ dealer, and WAS kccnly watching
the movement Immediately the youth
Strengthened himself up, still holding the
bank rot, and thus a~postrophizcd Sterlain:
"Ah. all ! see that you grccdily expect
this 81. 900 note Il swell yOnr pile. Well!
You shall not have ~ anil, ~ escape all
temptations, here IL gocs,' WhoreupOn
he twisted the note N II had been waste
paper. and holding Il up 10 the flame Of
chandelier, he ~wudhiully hiSscd these
words through his clonchcd teeth: Burn,
my poor note. and cyapomtc into thin air
rather than be- swallowed up, like your lost
sisters, by the bloatcd monster whose NAV
ynwns for you" After this he broke loose
and rushed away amid the loud laughter
Of his friends, who shouted: Bravo!
Brayol"
We had in Louisiana at that time many
individuals full Of original character.
Among others was "a member Of one OF our
| best families, whose name WIS 81. Amant,
with the additional sobriquct Of Bots
| piquant (Prickly Wood, given him on nc.
/ count 81 his extreme loneliness. lie was,
/ however, n good fellow aud pleasant com.
panion 10 those whom lac liked. and really
NJ the bottom he had n kind heart; but by
a freak Of nature he had been coated all
over with the quilts d the irctful porcu.
| pine, and was more prone Ia seek than
avoid n quarrel. Fighting seemed TO i'm.
| prove his digestion and his humor, and he
| evidently, whether wounded or not, felt
| irtter In consequence Of that stimulating
/ exercise Of which he was ~ fond. lie wa,
not thus inclined from malice prcponcc,
but from uncomfortable temperament.
| Perhaps he would have been more accom-.
modating, less sensitive and aggressive. II
| he had not had some cause to 10 hdgety
and even irritable. lie had a very light
pursc at his disposal. Perhaps, also, ~ he
was Of gentle birth, poverty pricked his
pride aud runlcd his feathers. But be u
is IL may, Bois piquant 81. Amant wa.
but too ready ~ crow, Flap his wings, and
strut delantly on his w~cll-spurred legs
Nothing, above all, delighted him NOR
than To get into difficulty ON behalf OF q
friend.
One evening Bots Piquan, was seated
nj the roulette tablc-nOt 10 stake any
thing, but 10 look ON, Tor ho had not q all.
yer plecc TO place ON the board. lie had
at his elbow, seated also nj the table, one
OF the most influential citizens Of historical
ancestry and hereditary wealth. lot ID
Mornay be his fictitious name. This gen
tleman had been playing heavily, and 10y
"a lucky turn OF the wheel Of fortune had
won q largc sum-. This frcttcd Sterlain.
who pushed with irritation n big pile 81
dollars toward Mornay, saying: "Pay your
self" Mornay, In his turn, showed II e
his ncighbor. Bois fquant. Take II NJ
for yourself, my friend,' he said; ~
don't accept what IL 10 boorishly handcc
10 me-" and he roao 20 depart. Boii
Piquant coolly began 10 count the money
making piles after piles OF ten dollars each
and at the completion oi each pile NJ